Teen who chased brother’s gunman killer took own life

A TEENAGER who gave chase to a lone gunman on a bicycle after he shot and killed his older brother was greatly traumatised by the event and took his own life three months later.

An inquest into the death of the older brother, Gavin McCarthy, aged 21, of Lower Oriel Street, Dublin 1, was held yesterday. He was standing outside an Indian takeaway on Lower Sherrif Street with a group of friends on October 19, 2008, when a gunman approached on a bicycle and fired four shots in quick succession.

Mr McCarthy was fatally wounded in the neck and lower leg and was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital a short time later.

Eric Moirs told Dublin City Coroner’s Court that at around 9pm, he noticed a “bloke on a bicycle” a few yards away.

“He seemed to come out of nowhere… He stopped his bicycle on the footpath in front of us. He took out a handgun and started firing. The gunman fired about two or three shots…

“I saw Gavin McCarthy hit the ground and turn onto his side. He shot him again while he was on the ground.”

The man, who wore dark clothing, gloves and a balaclava, then cycled “slowly” away in the direction of Crinian Strand.

The man’s brother, Daniel McCarthy, gave chase on foot.

“When he got up onto the path, he had a gun in his right hand. I didn’t care. I kept going… I grabbed him by the hood. He jumped off the bike and the bike fell. He kept running,” said a statement by the deceased teenager read out in court.

The gunman escaped, but Daniel saw him drop his gun and picked it up and hid it. Gardaí later located the Glock handgun.

There had apparently been previous threats on Gavin McCarthy’s life, Superintendent Kevin Dolan told the inquest. To date no one has been charged in relation to the shooting and the file remains open.

The Coroner’s Court heard that Daniel was greatly traumatised at what happened to Gavin and his family believe that’s one of the reasons why he took his life.

He died of brain injury due to hanging on January 14, 2009. Daniel was 18. An inquest was held into his death on July 5.

The jury yesterday returned a verdict of death by unlawful killing by a person unknown under the direction of coroner Dr Brian Farrell.

Speaking afterwards, Superintendent Dolan said anyone with information will be treated in the strictest confidence. “The death of Gavin McCarthy was a very tragic event for his family and his friends.”

The subsequent death of Daniel was a “double tragedy” for the family.